#guardposting

twas FUN!!!! i learned how diligent they are when handling all the laundry!! they haz to wash a great many things; clothes, some carpets, some flags and banners, our guard uniforms and hats!! ...i was almost in their way during the process, but i carried the largest loads for them!! :D

then they also spend hours dusting everything!! they beat tapestries and rugs with the same careful strength with which i handle my sword!!

some things require a wet cloth or some rag to clean!! the floors are neatly swept and mopped!! windows are washed and polished!! everything is polished!!!

whenever they got tired, i happily took over!!

i didn't haz to help the maids in the kitchens that much, but i still stayed by them just in case!! a few kept offering me small bites or treats or leftovers, as thanks for my help i suppose!!

THAT SAYS KILLING YOU IDIOT

i am the court's loyal yet outcast seer, most of the court thinks my prophecies and work are useless wives' tales, but enough know me to be honest that i am not forgotten. they keep me around for tradition and superstition, at the very least.

a kindly gardener has caught my eye but i am too scared to approach him, so instead i gaze at him from my tower, not daring to peek at him in my visions, until one day he waves and beckons me down.

They drop two more small yellow petals into the basket without looking up, but they're waiting for my answer.

"Mm...weeeell, I'm not certain." I shrug as I add my own yellow petals to the basket. It's rapidly becoming full despite the small size of the petals and the few workers. Just me and the child.

"What do you mean?" they ask. They finish their flower and pick up another one from the pile, plucking its yellow petals just like before and dropping them carefully into the basket.

I grin. "Their Maj tried to make me a knight before. So, tis not as though I'm unworthy of that position." The wind carries one of my petals out of my fingers, but I deftly catch it and put it into the basket. I continue putting more petals there. "And, others have asked me this same thing. Several times. I have to say no every time, and they look shocked. Appalled. Bamboozled!"

"But why aren't you a knight?" They pick up a new flower, discarding the petal-less one. "Don't you want to be one?"

I pause in my petal-plucking, tilting my head back to regard the clear blue sky for a few heartbeats. A small copse of trees shields us from the sun, which is a relief since tis been quite hot lately. The breeze refreshes us even after hours of work, gathering medicinal herbs for the doctors and the child's mother, a well-known herbalist.

"Not really," I say with another shrug.

The child is quiet. I finally finish the flower I was plucking, drop it in the moderately sized compost pile to my left, and reach for a new flower to pluck.

Oh. There's none.

I put my hands on my knees and smile at the child, who is leaning forward with their eyes on the basket. "Do you want to be a healer?" I ask them.

"Yes," they answer without hesitation. They pluck a stray leaf from the basket and put it in the compost pile.

"That's good." I sit back and smile at the dappled shade around us, shifting as the breeze gently rocks the tree branches.

"I want you to be a knight." Their voice is soft, almost hidden by the wind.

I almost tear up. Precious child. "Many have said that before as well."

"So why not—"

"If I became a knight, I wouldn't remain here. I would miss my post quite badly, and...well, it sort of sounds like I'm whining, huh." I tilt my head to consider my words more carefully while the child, bless their heart, nods earnestly. "As a guard, I am closer to the people. Like you, and like the poor folk who sit on the sides of the street even on hot days. I can look out for everyone better this way. As a knight...I would only look out for whoever I'm sworn to."

"Huh?"

I grin at the kid. "I wouldn't be able to help you gather herbs as much as before."

They blink. "Oh. Okay."

"Instead, I'd be fighting. All the time. Away from you and every other lovely person here."

"You fight really well," they point out with no hint of humor in their tone.

I chuckle. "Thank you, but I don't WANT to fight constantly all the time. Just like you don't, either."

They nod, accepting these words. They stand and try to pick up the wide basket full of yellow flower petals, but tis too heavy, so I pick it up with one arm. In the other, I hold the sack of compost.

Hefting my load, I follow the child to the apothecary. Their interest has turned to stories about my experiences as guard. I happily tell them even though I've told them so many other times before.

The sky is hidden by cloud, stony gray amongst the darker buildings rising to meet them. Shadow cloaks the alleyway, but the criminal I've been chasing is still visible, on the ground, their black clothing decrepit. They tremble.

I approach them at a slow, deliberate pace. Each step forward weighted.

They can't look at my eyes, my face. They just keep blabbering.

"Wait—WAIT! Please. Please, stop, I—" They swallow, almost sobbing now, a hand raising to try to shield themself. "I'm sorry, I'M SORRY, I won't do it again, I—"

I stab my sword into the ground next to them and crouch down with a chuckle, making them yelp and jump. They continue to shake, staring at me now, but still avoiding my gaze.

I put my chin in my hand, my other one still gripping the hilt of my sword. "Look at me."

They tentatively glance into my eyes. I wait until they're not looking away at all.

Then I stick my tongue out, smiling.

The criminal looks confused and suspicious and nervous all at once. I can see their wide eyes taking me in, and even hear their rapid breathing.

"I'll simply give you a warning, silly." I yank my sword out of the ground, making the criminal cry out again in alarm, then put it back in its scabbard at my hip, clean and free of stains. I stand up to my full height, which is not very tall at all, but it makes them flinch anyway. "You won't do it again, right?"

"No, no...I won't...."

"Good!" I exclaim, bouncing on my feet and smiling down at them. "Then don't be afraid! All you did was try to steal and run away! I mean, if blades were involved, then it'd be reeealllly serious, but as it stands..." I shrug, my smile twitching. "I think you learned your lesson."

"Um. R—Right."

"Okay, bye!" I say cheerfully, and spin around on my heel.

bonus (warning for blood, but still some whimsi i promise):